Last.



C. F. PARTRIDGE. Llfl'i. APPLwAmdN FILED 111111.17, 1909.

992,045. Patented May 9, 1911.

WITNESSES I IN N W 4411144 wwwwwm 1,1, 77Z1uzhv AW 4 l IZZf P D MLQ 4W 1 May UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. PARTRIDGE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO EMPIRE LAST WORKS, OEROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Lesa.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1911.

Application filed March 17, 1909. Serial No. 483,361.

lasts which are divided transversely and are bonded together by means of links, hinges or other bonding devices and more particularly relates to means for locking lasts so divided rigidly in lengthened positionand the present invention is a specific "form of the invention set out and claimed broadly in Letters Patent of the United States Number 909,388, issued to Amos G. Fitz, January 12th, 1909. In said patent to Fitz the locking lever is pivoted near the bottom of the last in the heel part and locking engagement with the top of the fore part of the last. In this construction the strain comes against the very top of the' fore part where there is so little material that it is frequently unable to withstand the strain, the strain tending to push the top off of the last.

The object of the present invention is to so arrange the locking lever that the strain on both anchoring points shall be exerted toward the center of the last and so rendering it better able to withstand the great strain to which lasts are subjected in the .processes of shoe making.

In the drawings herewith accompanying and making part of this application, Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of a two link last with my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in section of a single link last showing my invention applied thereto; Fig. 3 is an elevation partly in section showing a different means of anchoring thelocking bar in the fore part and Fig. 4 is an edge view of the locking bar showing the spring engaging offset.

Same letters of reference refer to like parts.

Insaid drawings A represents the fore part and B the heel part of a transversely divided last. The adjacent ends of the last are provided with link-receiving kert's C and D respectively in which the bonds E are mounted. Vertically positioned in said kerfs is a locking bar F andthis bar may be pivotally mounted onone of the pivots G on which the bonding device is mounted or it may be mounted on an independent pivot H as seen inFig. 2. The locking 1ever at the lower end is provided with a. tongue I adapted to engage a shoulder J in the fore part preferably formed'in a strengthening device K inserted in the fore part. In Figs. 1 and 2 the locking shoulder is shown formed on a screw K adapted to be inserted longitudinally in the last. In

Fig. 3 a different form is shown consisting of a plate L inserted in the kerf in the fore part and in the path of the ton 'ue I. The locking bar isheld normally in ocking engagement preferably by a spring M inserted in the heel part behind said bar below the pivot and tending constantly to force the locking end of the locking bar into engagement with the fore part. For convenience the said spring may be positioned to one side of the locking bar proper and in the path of a spring engaging offset N formed on the bar. i

,It will be apparent that my invention may be applied to any form of transversely divided last whether bonded by link or hinge. It will also be understood that the form of the locking bar and the manner of its locking engagement with the fore part may be modified without changing the spirit and scope of my invention.

The operation of my improved device is as follows. When the parts of t e last are moved to lengthened position the locking bar impelled by the spring locks automatically. To unlock the last it is only necessary to push forwardly against the upper end 0 of the bar, the locking end of the locking bar is thus caused to be moved backwardly out of engagement with the fore part. By this arrangement the'strain put upon the parts of the last tending to cause i the last. to collapse upwardly is exerted on a line passing through the pivot in the heel part and the point of locking engagement in the fore part downwardly from the pivot and upwardly from the point of locking engagement. the reverse of the tendency in the Fitz last hereinbeforc referred to.

The advantages of myimproved last are that it affords a simple, convenient means of 5 itsuse I elaim:

1. A transversely divided last having vertical registering reentrant kerfs in the adjacent ends thereof, bonding links pivotally mounted in said kerfs, a keeper in the kerf 0 in the fore part and a locking bar pivotally mounted in the kerf in the heel part and having its lower end spaced apart from andv forwardly of the-pivot of the lower bonding link adapted to be moved into and out 5 of engagement with said keeper.

2. A transversely divided last having vertical registering reentrant kerfs in the adjacent ends thereof, bonding links pivotally mounted in said kerfs, a keeper in the kerf in the 0 fore part and a locking bar pivotally mounted i the kerf in the heel part and having its lower end spaced apartfrom and forwardly of the pivot of the lowerfbonding link adapted to be moved into and out ofengagement 5 with said keeper, the pivot point of said locking bar being positioned above said keeper.

' 3. Atransversely divided last having IQ/1" tical registering reentrant kerfs in the adjacent ends "-ereof, bonding links pivotally mounted in said kerfs, a keeper in the kerf in the fore part, a locking bar pivotally mounted in the kerf in the heel part and having its lower end spaced apart from and forwardly of the pivot of the lower bonding link adapted to be moved into and out of engagement-with said keeper and means for holding the'locking bar yieldingly in engagement with said keeper.

4.. A transversely divided last having vertical registering reentrant kerfs in the adj acent ends thereof, bonding links pivotally mounted in said kerfs, a keeper 1n the kerf 1n the fore part and a locking bar pivotally mounted in the kerf in the heel. part and having its lower end spaced apart from and forwardly of the pivot of the lower bonding link adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with said. keeper and its upper end projecting above the crown of the last.

5. A transversely divided last having vertical registering reentrant kerfs in the adjacent ends thereof, bonding linkspivotally mounted in said kerfs, a keeper positioned in the kerf in the fore part, a locking bar pivotally mounted in the kerf in the heel part and having its lower end spaced apart from and forwardly of the pivot of the lower bonding link adapted to be moved into and out of engagement. with said keeper, a lateral offset formed on said looking bar below the pivot point and a spring adapted to engage said offset and hold said locking bar yieldingly in operative position.

6. A transversely divided last having vertical registering ren'trant kerfs in the adjacent ends thereof, ,a bonding link pivotally mounted in said kerfs'fa keeper in the kerf in thefore part, and a locking bar pivotally mounted in the kerf in the heel part and having its lower end spaced apart from and forwardly of the pivot of the bonding link and adapted to be moved intoand out. of engagement with said keeper.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in presence-of two subscribing witnesses this 6th day of B Iarch,

CHARLES F. PARTRIDGE. Witnesses:

SARAH W. NEUMAN,

C. C. WERNER. 

